Reports, proud muckraking, photos, videos and musings from the veteran LGBT and AIDS human rights advocate Michael Petrelis. Based in San Francisco since 1995.
Contact: MPetrelis_at_AOL_dot_com.
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Monday, August 01, 2016

Vid: SF Politician to Lobbyist: 'Can I Get a Mercedes?'

I'm not sure what was more shocking. The fact that mediocre Sup. Malia Cohen at the July 26 board meeting at City Hall asked a real estate lobbyist what other community benefits he could offer a project in her district that she was soon to vote on, and he quickly dangled $800,000 on top of the $1,000,000 already committed, or that she asked, "Can I get a Mercedes?"

Acting like Donald Trump caught engaging in political b.s., Cohen realized she made a huge ethical error and tried to dismiss it as a bad attempt at humor. No one in City Hall or watching on SF GovTV was laughing.

A deputy city attorney questioned the the propriety of Cohen's ridiculous request for a luxury car in exchange for her vote, and the fact the lobbyist offered significant additional community benefits to get what he wanted from Cohen and the other members of the Board of Supervisors.

Kudos to the progressives on the board for delving into Cohen's stupidity, but I can't help but think all board members act this brazenly with lobbyists behind closed doors out of public view.

Curious to see if folks start referring to the District 10 supervisor as Mercedes Cohen, lol.

Hear her jokingly request a Mercedes at the 00:43 second point in the vid: